Day 87 of the 82nd Texas Legislature

FLOOR PLAY BY ABBY RAPOPORT What role should standardized testing play in public education? That was the subject of yesterday’s fierce floor debate in the House. House Bill 500—legislation that would loosen graduation requirements in lieu of a new standardized STARR test—passed with an almost unanimous vote. But the bill generated some unpredictable debate. As Abby Rapoport writes, “amendments prompted heated discussions about just what role testing should play in school assessments. And the coalitions for and against were anything but predictable.”

BEST OF THE REST The Statesman’s Jason Embry is keeping a close eye on David Dewhurst. The Lite Gov will have to walk delicately between Democrats and GOP conservatives when considering how much to spend in this year’s budget—while not harming his chances at winning a U.S. Senate seat next year.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHINGThere may be some new hope, or at least some new money, for Senate budget writers today when Sen. Robert Duncan’s special subcommittee tasked with finding $5 billion in non-tax revenue will meet in public for the first time since the panal was organized several weeks ago. Panel members will report back on just where the extra money will come from. Senators desperately need that $5 billion to help close the budget gap.